In Hai Village, Dai Yen Commune, Chuong My District, Hanoi, everyone knows about Mr. Tran Van Cao's Ho Chi Minh museum. This 90-year-old farmer's modest space contains numerous photographs of Uncle Ho visiting rural areas and meeting farmers. Mr. Cao says the museum is still incomplete, but these photos of Uncle Ho wading through rice fields already paint a portrait of a great yet humble leader beloved by every Vietnamese.
All Vietnamese people cherish Uncle Ho, but for Mr. Cao, the affection is deeply personal. More than 60 years after meeting President Ho Chi Minh in person, the image of President Ho Chi Minhthe national leader remains vivid in his mind. Mr. Cao has dedicated the third floor of his family home to house a museum in his honor. The museum receives even more visitors during May, Ho Chi Minh’s birth month. With over 800 photographs collected over three decades, the life and legacy of Ho Chi Minh become more tangible and relatable to those who visit, especially those from the countryside. Twelve golden-framed portraits of Uncle Ho purchased with Mr. Cao’s retirement savings, occupy the most revered space. Mr. Cao carefully collected these photographs, which portray a national leader who was deeply connected to farmers and who held a special place in his heart for the agricultural community.
The documentary Portraits Through Photographs tells the story of the emotional bond between President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese farmers through multiple perspectives, featuring accounts from those who had the privilege of meeting him. Ho Chi Minh visited localities 923 times, including 18 visits to Bac Ninh, 10 to Hung Yen, and nine to Hai Phong. He visited Thanh Hoa four times, and on each occasion, he emphasized the importance of agriculture, farmers, and rural development. To this day, stories about his affection for and closeness to the people are still passed down in villages across the country.
Across the length of Vietnam, monuments and memorials continue to be erected, not just as places of remembrance, but also as symbols of deep respect and unwavering faith in the leader who devoted his life to the nation. And in the humble home of Mr. Tran Van Cao, a special joy arises every year on Ho Chi Minh’s birthday: he unveils a newly acquired photograph of Uncle Ho. The hardworking, honest, and loyal farmer carefully and reverently hangs it on his wall, steadfastly believing that these images will live on through time.
